FORUMS > Wigan Warriors > Opposition Greats. |
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| A couple of weeks ago a poster who goes by the user name of Singing Warrior introduced himself with some very interesting comments about the players he had seen since he began watching Wigan, greats like Sullivan, Mountford, Bradshaw, Blan, Cunliffe and Boston etc. Some of these players who where still playing in the 50s I saw myself.
It was by reading this that made me think about great players I had seen myself since I first watched Wigan in 1953, being a Billy Boston mad teenager I could not believe that there could have been a better winger than Billy.
When I went with a few mates on away trips to Yorkshire we always said to the Yorkshire fans that Billy was the greatest, one name was always thrown back at us, that Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield was better.
Even the older Wigan Fans used to say that he was a very good winger (he scored 10 trys in a match against Kieghley in one match in the 50s)
So I have had look at the stats of 4 wingers playing in the days when I first began supporting R/L.
Brian Bevan of Warrington
Pld 695 club matches and scored 740 trys which equates to 1.064 trys per match.
Billy Boston of Wigan
Pld 488 club matches and scored 478 trys ...".........".......to .979 trys per match.
Tom Van Vollenhoven of St Helens.
Pld 409 club matches and scored 392 trys...."........."........to .958 trys per match.
Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield.
Pld 332 club matches and scored 432 trys ..."........."........to 1.3 trys per match
Even though I cant remember seeing Cooper, (but I more than likely did at the back end of his career) he must have been some player, he came over from Australia in 1946 and played until 1955.
It would be interesting to see the comments of other posters who remember Cooper, probably Singing Warrior or Fleabag and his dad.
I know stats can sometimes mislead, but they can also open ones eyes. But I still say Billy was the best.
It would of interest also to see which OPPOSISTION players fans have seen who stand out in there memories without naming players from their own teams.
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65656_1708941604.jpg [size=95:2obtgspq]23 LEAGUE TITLES[/size:2obtgspq]
[size=95:2obtgspq]21 CHALLENGE CUPS[/size:2obtgspq]
[size=95:2obtgspq]5 WORLD TITLES[/size:2obtgspq]
[b:2obtgspq][color=#FF0000:2obtgspq][size=100:2obtgspq]SAYS IT ALL REALLY[/size:2obtgspq][/color:2obtgspq][/b:2obtgspq]:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_65656.jpg |
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| Big Les, Long & Peacock spring to mind when i think about opposition players in the SL era.
Big Les was a freak of a man and his try scoring record speaks for itself.
Long was a tool but you knew that come the big games he'd more than likely turn out a top performance.
Peacock is simply a warrior. He's the type of guy you can't not respect a guy that would grace any side of any era imo. I'd have loved him at Wigan.
I was only a kid during the 80's and 90's and didn't really pay attention to the other teams players. As a kid it's always about your own team players.
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[quote="Frank Zappa":1sacjrvf]Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.[/quote:1sacjrvf]
[quote="The_Enforcer":1sacjrvf]Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.[/quote:1sacjrvf]: |
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| Lyon, Vainikolo, Briers, Long, Cunningham, Morley, Peacock and Sculthorpe stick out for me as the.best opposition players of the SL era, all genuinely.world class in their prime
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3632_1352982335.jpg Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery.......
I will look to the moment, and miraculously, the future will take care of itself.
Radio 5 Live, Sat, April 14th, 2007,...Dave Whelan, "In Wigan, rugby will always be king"
'I was certain, positive, convinced, and yet..........unsure'
'It's only rock 'n' roll, but I like it'
Worry will not prevent destiny from unfolding.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_3632.jpg |
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| Quote: stillinthepast "A couple of weeks ago a poster who goes by the user name of Singing Warrior introduced himself with some very interesting comments about the players he had seen since he began watching Wigan, greats like Sullivan, Mountford, Bradshaw, Blan, Cunliffe and Boston etc. Some of these players who where still playing in the 50s I saw myself.
It was by reading this that made me think about great players I had seen myself since I first watched Wigan in 1953, being a Billy Boston mad teenager I could not believe that there could have been a better winger than Billy.
When I went with a few mates on away trips to Yorkshire we always said to the Yorkshire fans that Billy was the greatest, one name was always thrown back at us, that Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield was better.
Even the older Wigan Fans used to say that he was a very good winger (he scored 10 trys in a match against Kieghley in one match in the 50s)
So I have had look at the stats of 4 wingers playing in the days when I first began supporting R/L.
Brian Bevan of Warrington
Pld 695 club matches and scored 740 trys which equates to 1.064 trys per match.
Billy Boston of Wigan
Pld 488 club matches and scored 478 trys ...".........".......to .979 trys per match.
Tom Van Vollenhoven of St Helens.
Pld 409 club matches and scored 392 trys...."........."........to .958 trys per match.
Lionell Cooper of Huddersfield.
Pld 332 club matches and scored 432 trys ..."........."........to 1.3 trys per match
Even though I cant remember seeing Cooper, (but I more than likely did at the back end of his career) he must have been some player, he came over from Australia in 1946 and played until 1955.
It would be interesting to see the comments of other posters who remember Cooper, probably Singing Warrior or Fleabag and his dad.
I know stats can sometimes mislead, but they can also open ones eyes. But I still say Billy was the best.
It would of interest also to see which OPPOSISTION players fans have seen who stand out in there memories without naming players from their own teams.'"
A couple more 'old' Wigan wingers to look at...........Brian Nordgren, 294 apps, 312 tries. Gordon Ratcliffe, 212 apps, 185 tries, including 7 in 1 match !!.
ps, best opposing player I've seen against Wigan.........Alex Murphy, outstanding, probably the best scrum half I've seen up to now.
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7007.jpg [quote="Badwanger":3hoggrzp]IMO, Sculthorpe at his peak was better than Hanley was at his.[/quote:3hoggrzp]
[quote="nickmanator":3hoggrzp]billy boston in todays game might pinch a spot bringin the cone on and that bein kind[/quote:3hoggrzp]
[quote="robbierotten":3hoggrzp]Imo Sam Tomkins is a very poor mans Danny Brough he is just a average player getting bigged up by the idiots who comentate on sky.[/quote:3hoggrzp]
[quote="Deano G":3hoggrzp]Jonathan Davies, who is his equal in [Super League] today?[/quote:3hoggrzp]
[quote="Badwanger":3hoggrzp]Wellens[/quote:3hoggrzp]:7007.jpg |
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| Jonathan Davies - such a naturally gifted player, would have been sensational at Wigan
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| Quote: Deano G "Jonathan Davies - such a naturally gifted player, would have been sensational at Wigan'"
Mike gregory, Kurt sorensen and kevin ward all awesome forwards.
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2410.jpg [color=darkred:2d8t03fs][b:2d8t03fs][size=200:2d8t03fs]ANCIENT & LOYAL UPON MY CHEST[/size:2d8t03fs][/b:2d8t03fs][/color:2d8t03fs]
[size=75:2d8t03fs]Ancient and loyal, upon my chest
they are men of wigans best
a team that plaaayed, the wigan way
and won the championship in may
jim sullivan, he was the king
brian mctigue and johnny ring
a team that plaaayed the wigan way
and won the championship in may
when eric ashton was alive
and billy boston by his side
with dave bolton and billy blan
oh what a time to be a fan
in 85, at wem-ber-ly
john ferguson and brett kenny
a team that plaaayed the wigan way
and won the challenge cup in may
in 95 we won them all
tuigamala, faz and paul
a team that played the wigan way
and won the championship in may
[/size:2d8t03fs]:2410.jpg |
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| Lance Hohaia
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51052_1304440802.jpg :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_51052.jpg |
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| Jamie Lyon
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68369_1347264927.jpg :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_68369.jpg |
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| Tommy Martyn
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3076_1671446335.jpg SAINTS THE ORIGINAL AND PERENNIAL CHEATS
For sale full Saints kit (circa 1989). Shirts in pristine condition, but shorts badly soiled.
For 27 - 0 you get a trophy
For 75 - 0 you get sod all.
Wigan had eight in a row
Saints have five in a row:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_3076.jpg |
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| Alex Murphy was a great player, as were Roger Millward, Neil Fox, Brian Bevan. Tommy Voll etc. But my favourite opposition player was Johnny Walsh who played for Saints. Not the quickest but a brilliant rugby brain.
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Dwarfs, Gnomes, Halflings/HAFLING2.JPG BANG THE DRUM.............BARMY ARMY:Dwarfs, Gnomes, Halflings/HAFLING2.JPG |
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| Jim Mills for the entertainment value...you always knew he would lose the plot at some point ![Smile icon_smile.gif](images/smilies//icon_smile.gif)
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15768_1384187582.jpg :d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_15768.jpg |
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| Frank Blackburn , no contest .
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63362_1317664225.jpg [b:35jm31e6][color=#FF0040:35jm31e6]Formerly known as Moonlight Flit[/color:35jm31e6][/b:35jm31e6]:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_63362.jpg |
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| Quote: twosevenzero "
ps, best opposing player I've seen against Wigan.........Alex Murphy, outstanding, probably the best scrum half I've seen up to now.'"
Murphy was outstanding, and always shone out.
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63362_1317664225.jpg [b:35jm31e6][color=#FF0040:35jm31e6]Formerly known as Moonlight Flit[/color:35jm31e6][/b:35jm31e6]:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_63362.jpg |
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International Star | 1007 | No Team Selected |
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63362_1317664225.jpg [b:35jm31e6][color=#FF0040:35jm31e6]Formerly known as Moonlight Flit[/color:35jm31e6][/b:35jm31e6]:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_63362.jpg |
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| Quote: twosevenzero "A couple more 'old' Wigan wingers to look at...........Brian Nordgren, 294 apps, 312 tries. Gordon Ratcliffe, 212 apps, 185 tries, including 7 in 1 match !!.
ps, best opposing player I've seen against Wigan.........Alex Murphy, outstanding, probably the best scrum half I've seen up to now.'"
Ernie Ashcroft the great Wigan and GB centre it was widely rumoured wouldn't pass the ball to Nordgren(noggy).According to the rumour he said "He gets more money than me !"
Lots of women used to drool over 'noggy' by all accounts.
Brian Nordgren came with Cec Mountford from NZ.
Just asked my old Dad, and he really rated Lionel Cooper who was "class" to use his word. He also rated the 'Headingley Express' Eric Harris.
Harris was very fast, but Cooper was better, according to my old Dad.
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